Lighting - Chapter 2: Fluorescent Tubes
Page 7 - Why Are Differing Kelvin Ratings Necessary?
Why are differing Kelvin ratings necessary at all? In a word, DEPTH! The natural reef environment begins at the surface and can reach to depths down to 150 feet, or more!.If you have ever snorkeled or scuba dived, then you're aware of how quickly water depth can effect light intensity. The lower one goes, the dimmer and darker the light, turning from turquoise to azure to cobalt in very quick order. This obstacle haunted the hobby in it's infancy until Philips and other tube manufacturers realized that there was a dollar or two to be made in this hobby! Once it became economically feasible, tubes strictly for our tanks suddenly began appearing in magazines and our stocklist shelves. Holy reef tank Aquaman, I can now keep that once delicate specimen thriving in it's little glass box for more than a month or two!
Seriously, the K rating, or CRI, gives you the ability to match the tank lighting to that of your animal's natural habitat. Without this important advances in the industry we could never hope to duplicate lighting conditions at DEPTH in our living rooms, and provide as near identical conditions for our corals and inverts as that in nature.
Now wattage plays a part here, too. The higher the wattage, the deeper it will penetrate. With the right K rating though, a hobbyist could conceivably duplicate conditions at say 50 feet in an aquarium only 18" deep. It's a trade-off, higher wattage vs. proper K rating. Combine the two and you achieve reef lighting Nirvana! Why go there? SPS corals, for one.
SPS corals? I know, I know! You want to hear more about this topic in detail, but for now it is more important to deal with the other various methods of achieving proper illumination for your reef tank. By knowing all of the reef lighting options available, when the time comes for you to purchase your reef lighting system this information will assist you with making a wise choice. Now let's go on to Chapter 3 where I talk about reef system light choices, such as using pre-manufactured light hoods, MH (Metal Halide) and PC (Power Compact) lighting. Once done there, then you can go on to Chapter 4, which deals with the specifics of coral lighting.
Don CarnerPrevious Page > Exploring Kelvin Ratings Further
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